Isaac Hayes is now best known as the voice of Chef (of
Chocolate Salty Balls fame) on South Park,
but in the world of soul music he's one bad mother--shut your mouth! As a
musician in the Stax Records house band, and as a
composer with writing partner David Porter, Hayes was crucial to the
development of the Memphis soul
sound--a rawer and less-produced cousin of the music coming out of Mowtown in the mid-1960s.
Hayes and Porter wrote over 200 songs together for artists
like Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, and, most memorably, for Sam & Dave.
Songs like "Soul Man," "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" stand as some of the enduring classics of soul
music.
Isaac Hayes was an important solo artist in his own right as
well, and Ultimate Isaac Hayes--Can You Dig It? is a 2-disc compilation that covers the first several
years--and by far the best years--of his career as a solo musician recording
for Stax. Beginning in 1967, Hayes recorded a series
of classic soul albums that bridge the gap between the trademark horns of the Memphis
sound and a mellower, more laid-back '70s vibe that led to, among other things,
disco and smooth R&B.
The compilation starts off with one of Isaac Hayes' most
memorable songs, "Theme From Shaft."
Instantly recognizable thanks to the iconic wah-wah
guitar riff, the song was the blueprint for many a blaxploitation
film theme to come. Hayes holds the singular honor of being the first
African-American composer to win an Academy Award for Best Film Score.
1/30/06
Source: http://blogcritics.org
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